Wainwright Out, Dugger In For Prison Job

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State Prison superintendent Richard Dugger was named secretary of the Department of Corrections on Monday by Gov.-elect Bob Martinez.

Louie Wainwright, the current Corrections Department secretary, will stay on as a paid consultant for at least a year.

Dugger's appointment is the first of 10 agency director jobs that Martinez will fill as Florida's first Republican governor in 20 years. The former Tampa mayor said he chose Dugger, 43, because he wanted to promote someone who knows how the department operates, a practice he employed when filling jobs in the Tampa Police Department.

''He has been a long-term employee, a professional,'' Martinez said of Dugger. ''I felt that coming out of operations like he has would give me the kind of flavor I want in the secretary's office.''

Dugger, a Democrat who never campaigned for Martinez but appeared at one Martinez rally, has been superintendent of the state's largest maximum security prison, near Starke, for four years. He worked his way to the top from the bottom.

A Florida State University graduate with a degree in criminology and corrections, Dugger began his corrections career 22 years ago as a guard at the same prison he now oversees. He also grew up in the system -- his father worked for the department for 37 years, ending his career as chief of the bureau of institutions.

Dugger's appointment is effective Jan. 6, the same day Martinez takes office, and it is subject to Senate approval. Wainwright is scheduled to assist with the transition through Jan. 31 and then become a ''continuing consultant'' to the department for at least one year and possibly two.

Although Martinez campaigned on a theme of eliminating waste from government, he said he saw no inconsistency in keeping Wainwright on as an adviser, drawing at least the same $70,000 salary he makes as secretary. Martinez said he needs Wainwright to enhance coordination between the criminal justice and corrections systems.

Wainwright, 63, has been with the department for 34 years, 24 of them as secretary. He has served longer than any other department head in the state and has earned a national reputation in corrections.

Martinez was vague about Wainwright's duties, but he indicated the secretary will be involved in plans for prison construction.

Martinez said his administration will evaluate how prisons can be built at a lower cost.

A shortage of prison space is one of the most critical problems the department faces.

The corrections system is quickly approaching its court-imposed population limit, which soon may force the governor to release some prisoners before their sentences expire.

Gov. Bob Graham, who will leave office Jan. 3 for the U.S. Senate, wants to hold a special legislative session during the next few weeks to address the prison crowding, but the idea has had a cool reception from legislative leaders.

In other transition news Monday, Tom Lewis, secretary of the Department of Community Affairs, notified Martinez of his intention to resign Feb. 9.

Lewis, an architect from Orlando, has made no secret that he would like to continue as secretary under Martinez, but Martinez aides informed Lewis last week that he will not be asked to remain. No replacement has been named.

Martinez aides also confirmed Monday that an appointment announced earlier this month has been changed. Brian Ballard, a 25-year-old law student who was Martinez's travel aide during the campaign, will become Martinez's special assistant, a new post in the governor's office. Ballard had been slated to become Martinez's aide on Cabinet affairs.